The Art of Presence

A poetic documentary exploring the life and philosophy of Russian photo artist Farit Gubaev, a legendary photographer and Honored Artist of Tatarstan, who devoted over fifty years to capturing human presence and emotion through his lens. Directed and executive produced by Ilia Andreev, a graduate of Kazan Federal University, the film was shot across Kazan and Moscow, with production support from Hollywood producer. The documentary delves into Gubaev's creative journey and philosophy through the stories behind three of his major photo albums. Ilia Andreev's intimate collaboration with Gubaev, including hands-on work in designing his photo albums, allows the film to reveal the artist's meticulous methodology and deep ideological approach to photography. Original music composed for the film enhances its contemplative atmosphere. The premiere, held at the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow, was supported by the educational project Vmeste Media and involved students from the Master's program in Media Management at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. "The Art of Presence" has been praised by critics and photography experts alike for its visually rich narrative and insightful portrayal of a twentieth-century photographic master.